Family of genes encoding apoptosis-related peptides, peptides encoded thereby and methods of use thereof

ABSTRACT

An isolated polynucleotide at least 60% homologous to SEQ ID NO: 1, 3, 5 or 18 encoding a SARP polypeptide; vectors comprising a polynucleotide sequence encoding at least 11 consecutive amino acids of αSARP polypeptide; a host cell transformed with an isolated polynucleotide or vector; antibodies specific for SARP and use of such polynucleotides and antibodies in diagnostic and therapeutic method. Therapeutic uses of antibodies and polynucleotides of sarp. Methods for treating diseases related to the regulation of SARP expression in tissue and bodily fluid samples, including cancers.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/146,474, filed May 14, 2002, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/937,067, filed Sep. 24, 1997, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,433,155, which claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/026,603, filed Sep. 24, 1996 and U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/028,363, filed Oct. 11, 1996. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/146,474, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/937,067, U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/026,603 and U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/028,363 are incorporated herein by this reference in their entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to the field of diagnosing and treating conditions related to apoptosis, or programmed cell death. More specifically, it relates to the identification and characterization of a novel gene family, the expression of which is associated with apoptosis.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Apoptosis is a normal physiologic process that leads to individual cell death. This process of programmed cell death is involved in a variety of normal and pathogenic biological events and can be induced by a number of unrelated stimuli. Changes in the biological regulation of apoptosis also occur during aging and are responsible for many of the conditions and diseases related to aging. Recent studies of apoptosis have implied that a common metabolic pathway leading to cell death can be initiated by a wide variety of signals, including hormones, serum growth factor deprivation, chemotherapeutic agents, ionizing radiation and infection by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Wyllie (1980) Nature 284:555–556; Kanter et al. (1984) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 118:392–399; Duke and Cohen (1986) Lymphokine Res. 5:289–299; Tomei et al. (1988) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 155:324–331; Kruman et al. (1991) J. Cell. Physiol. 148:267–273; Ameisen and Capron (1991) Immunology Today 12:102; and Sheppard and Ascher (1992) J. AIDS 5:143. Agents that modulate the biological control of apoptosis thus have therapeutic utility in a wide variety of conditions.

Apoptotic cell death is characterized by cellular shrinkage, chromatin condensation, cytoplasmic blebbing, increased membrane permeability and interchromosomal DNA cleavage. Kerr et al. (1992) FASEB J. 6:2450; and Cohen and Duke (1992) Ann. Rev. Immunol. 10:267. The blebs, small, membrane-encapsulated spheres that pinch off of the surface of apoptotic cells, may continue to produce superoxide radicals which damage surrounding cell tissue and may be involved in inflammatory processes.

While apoptosis is a normal cellular event, it can also be induced by pathological conditions and a variety of injuries. Apoptosis is involved in a wide variety of conditions including, but not limited to, cardiovascular disease; cancer regression; immunoregulation; viral diseases; anemia; neurological disorders; gastrointestinal disorders, including but not limited to, diarrhea and dysentery; diabetes; hair loss; rejection of organ transplants; prostate hypertrophy; obesity; ocular disorders; stress; and aging.

Genes which have been shown to activate the apoptosis pathway in tumor cells include the FAS antigen, TNFα and TNFβ. See, e.g., Tomei and Cope et al. in Apoptosis II: The Molecular Basis of Apoptosis in Disease (1994) Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press. In the nematode C. elegans, mutations in the genes ced-3 and ced-4 prevent autonomous cell death during development. Yuan and Horvitz (1990) Dev. Biol. 138:33. A mutation which activates the nematode gene ced-9 prevents cell death during development, whereas mutations that inactive this gene promote programmed cell death. In mammalian cells, the p-53 gene has been shown to induce apoptosis in some cells, but not others.

Apoptosis-inhibiting genes under investigation include bcl-2 which was isolated from B-cell lymphomas and blocks apoptosis without affecting cell proliferation. See, e.g., Tsujimoto et al. Science 226:1087; Hockenberry et al. (1990) Nature 348:334. The mechanism by which bcl-2 inhibits apoptosis is not known. Mcl-1, expressed in myeloid cells, exhibits sequence similarity to bcl-2 and is believed to be involved in regulating apoptosis. Kozopas et al. (1993) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 90:3516.

Members of a large family of putative transmembrane receptors related to the Drosophila melanogaster tissue polarity gene frizzled have been cloned recently. See, Wang et al. (1995) J. Biol. Chem. 271:4468. Frizzled family members are found in organisms as diverse as nematodes and humans and are expressed in a variety of tissues and during embryonic development. In Drosophila, frizzled mutations affect the polarity of structures, such as sensory bristles, on the body surface. The precise functions and clinical significance of the frizzled family in other species remains largely unknown.

All references cited herein, both supra and infra, are hereby incorporated by reference herein.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention encompasses isolated polynucleotides, polypeptides and antibodies derived from or reactive with the products of the novel apoptosis-related genes. The invention also encompasses uses of these compositions.

Accordingly, one aspect of the invention is polynucleotides encoding polypeptides of the SARP family. Representative polypeptides are those having the amino acid sequence of SEQ. ID. NO: 2, 4, 6 or 7. The invention likewise encompasses polynucleotides encoding peptides having substantial homology to the amino acid sequence of SEQ. ID. NO: 2, 4, 6 or 7.

In another aspect, the invention provides isolated polynucleotides that are comprised of a region of at least 15 contiguous nucleotides, where these nucleotides are capable of forming a stable duplex with a polynucleotide encoding sequence of SEQ. ID. NO: 1, 3, 5 or 18.

Another aspect of the invention is cloning and expression vectors comprising the polynucleotides of the invention. Also included are host cells comprising the polynucleotides of the invention.

In another aspect, the invention comprises polypeptides of at least 11 amino acid residues of SEQ. ID. NO: 2, 4, 6 or 7 and further comprises polypeptides substantially homologous to 11 amino acid residues of SEQ. ID. NO: 2, 4, 6 or 7. The invention also provides fusion polypeptides comprising a polypeptide of the present invention.

The invention also provides for polyclonal or monoclonal antibodies which specifically bind to the polypeptides of the invention. There are termed αSARP antibodies.

In another aspect, methods of detecting the polynucleotides of the invention are provided. These methods comprise contacting a biological sample under conditions that permit the formation of a stable complex, and detecting any stable complexes formed.

Another aspect of the invention is methods of detecting the SARP family of proteins. These methods entail the steps of contacting a biological sample obtained from an individual with an αSARP antibody of the invention under conditions that permit the stable antigen-antibody complex and detecting stable complex formed, if any.

Also provided are methods for treatment of apoptosis by administration of a therapeutically effective amount of the polynucleotides and/or polypeptides of the invention to a patient in need of such treatment. The methods include making a composition for treatment of conditions related to apoptosis. Other methods using these compositions include preventing apoptosis in cultured cells, methods of increasing organ preservation for subsequent organ transplantation and in situ preservation for bypass operations, e.g., heart, liver, lungs, brain, etc., and methods of treating dermatological conditions in which apoptosis is implicated.

Also provided are methods for the detection of disease by providing a test sample of bodily fluid; assaying the test sample for the presence of a gene product of an hsarp gene; and comparing the amount of gene product detected in the test sample to the amount of gene product detected in a non-diseased sample of the same tissue type as the test sample. Assaying encompasses, but is not limited to, nucleic acid hybridization and antibody—antigen interactions.

In an additional embodiment of the present invention, a method of treatment of a patient is provided, comprising administering to the patient a therapeutically effective amount of a pharmaceutically acceptable composition comprising a component selected from the group comprising a sarp or antisense-hsarp polynucleotide or a SARP polypeptide or SARP antibody. The method can be a method of treating apoptosis related conditions. In a specific embodiment, the patient is suffering from a condition related to cancer, including, but not limited to, cancer of the mammary tissue, the prostate or the prostate epithelial tissue. In an additional embodiment, the composition contains a sarp polynucleotide or the gene product of that polynucleotide, a SARP polypeptide.

The above and other objects of the invention will become readily apparent to those of skill in the relevant art from the following detailed description and figures, wherein only the preferred embodiments of the invention are shown and described, simply by way of illustration of the best mode of carrying out the invention. As is readily recognized, the invention is capable of modifications within the skill of the relevant art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A shows alignment of hSARP2 predicted amino acid sequence to frizzled proteins. [SEQ. ID. NOS: 7–9].

FIG. 1B shows a comparison of the amino acid sequence of mSARP1 (SEQ. ID. NO: 2) to various frizzled proteins (SEQ. ID. NOS: 10–14).

FIG. 2 is a Northern blot depicting tissue specific expression of msarp1 in various mouse tissues. RNAs were isolated from different tissues resolved on 1.2% formaldehyde-agarose gel, transferred to nylon membrane and probed by msarp1 at high stringency.

FIG. 3A depicts the results of a Northern blot analysis of multiple human tissues with a probe specific for hsarp2.

FIG. 3B is a compilation of Northern blots depicting tissue specific expression of hsarp1 and hsarp3 in various human tissues. Multiple tissue northern blots were probed at high stringency conditions.

FIG. 4 depicts the results of a Northern blot analysis of normal and transformed cell lines with a probe specific for hsarp2.

FIG. 5 is a Northem blot depicting expression of msarp1 in 10T1/2 quiescent cells after reseeding at low density.

FIG. 6, panels (A) through (C) show the percentage of viable transformed MCF7 cell lines after different treatments. MCF7 cells were transformed with either an expression vector (pcDNA3) or with pcDNA3 carrying the hsarp2 gene. Panel (A) shows the percentage of living cells after seven days of serum deprivation. Panel (B) shows the percentage of living cells after 24 hour treatment with adriamycin at 1 μg/ml. Panel (C) shows the percentage of living cells after 24 hour treatment with hTNF at 50 ng/ml. Panel (D) shows the relative amounts of hsarp2 expression in each of the MCF7 clones used in the experiments described in the Examples presented herein.

FIG. 7 is a Northern blot of RNA isolated from rat cardiac myocytes after various treatments probed with msarp1 cDNA fragment.

FIG. 8 is 2 bar graphs depicting viability of the control, β-galactosidase, and msarp1 transfected neonatal rat cardiac myocytes subjected for 24 hour to serum free medium or adriamycin treatment. The amount of infections virus particles per cell are shown in parentheses.

FIG. 9 is a series of graphs depicting (A) the effect of cycloheximide on 10T1/2 log and quiescent cell death induced by serum deprivation and (B) the effect of conditioned medium from quiescent cells on cells subjected to serum deprivation and cycloheximide treatment.

FIG. 10 depicts (A) graphs, (B) a Northern blot, and (C) a Western analysis. The graphs depict the effects of TNF and Ceramide on cell viability in the presence of SARPs. The Northern blot depicts control RNA from cells transfected by pcDNA3, RNA from cells transfected by msarp1 or hsarp2 recombinant vectors. The proteins of serum free conditioned media from 10T1/2 and MCF7 cells were concentrated by filtration and subjected to western analysis using anti-GST-mSARP1 antisera (1:5000 dilution).

FIG. 11 depicts the comparison of hsarp1 expression in human normal and neoplastic prostate epithelial cells at 10× and 40× magnifications.

FIG. 12 depicts the comparison of hsarp2 expression in human normal and neoplastic mammary epithelial cells at 10× and 40× magnifications.

FIG. 13 depicts the detection by Western analysis of β-catenin in MCF7 cells transfected with pcDNA3, msarp1 and hsarp2.

MODE(S) FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Disclosed herein is a new gene family, the expression of which is associated with apoptosis. The genes are termed “sarp” (secreted apoptosis related protein). msarp genes are derived from murine sources whereas hsarp genes are derived from human sources. These genes, including msarp1, hsarp2, hsarp1 and hsarp3, encode novel proteins which belong to the family of proteins termed “SARP”. The hsarp2 gene is expressed in a variety of tissues. When hsarp2 was inserted into an expression vector and transfected into human cell lines, it increased the percentage of cells undergoing apoptosis in culture. The hsarp2 gene is expressed in exponentially growing non-transformed cell lines, and repressed in quiescent ones. Increased expression of hsarp2 has been shown to increase programmed cell death in a breast carcinoma cell line in a dose dependent manner. A BLAST search of Gene Bank revealed significant homology between the novel gene family and members of the “Frizzled Like” gene family (see FIG. 1B, SEQ. ID. NOS: 10–14). The frizzled-like gene family encodes cell membrane proteins having seven trausmembrane domains with unknown functions. It was previously shown that Wnt and frizzled proteins interact. Bhanot et al. (1996) Nature 382:225–230. Multiple sequence alignment to human frizzled-like proteins showed that the novel family is most homologous in the extracellular N-terminal domains of frizzled-like proteins, with little homology in the transmembrane region. SARPs have now been shown to interfere with the Wnt-frizzled protein interaction and modify apoptosis by effecting cell-cell and cell-extracellular matrix signaling.

We have cloned a family of novel genes from mouse cells and from human heart and pancreas cDNA libraries. The expression of these genes is associated with the early stages of apoptosis. The mouse gene, termed msarp1, contains a single open reading frame which encodes a predicted protein product of 295 amino acids which is secreted. msarp1 is expressed at high levels in heart, lung and is upregulated in cardiomyocytes subjected to injuries which trigger apoptosis. Transcription of msarp1 is also significantly induced in 10T1/2 cells which reached quiescence, a state of arrested cell growth which is characterized by increased resistance to apoptotic stimuli.

The novel gene family also includes three human genes, termed hsarp2, hsarp1 and hsarp3. hsarp1 is closely homologous to msarp1 and has one open reading frame (ORF) which encodes a 212 amino acid polypeptide, termed hSARP1. hsarp3 encodes a protein of 316 amino acids, termed hSARP3, which is homologous to hSARP2 and mSARP1. hSARP1 is expressed at highest levels in colon, small intestine, pancreas and prostate. hSARP3 is expressed predominately in pancreas.

The hsarp2 cDNA sequence contains 1302 nucleotides and encodes a polypeptide of 314 amino acids having an N-terminal methionine and C-terminal lysine amino acid residues. The full length cDNA sequence includes 301 nucleotides of the 5′ untranslated region and 62 nucleotides of 3′ untranslated region. The hsarp2 cDNA contains one major open reading frame (ORF) (hSARP2). The ATG start site is found at position 303, and the termination site is at position 1248. When hsarp2 is inserted into an expression vector and transfected into human cell lines, it increases the percentage of cells that undergo apoptosis in culture.

As used herein, “sarp” including msarp1 hsarp1, hsarp2 and hsarp3, refer to the nucleic acid molecules encoding the SARPs, and derivatives and complementary nucleotides thereof. “SARP” including mSARP, hSARP1, hSARP2 and hSARP3 refer to the proteins encoded thereby. Other members of the family can be obtained by the methods described in the Examples presented herein.

The present invention encompasses nucleotide sequences of the new gene family. The nucleotides include, but are not limited to, the cDNA, genome-derived DNA and synthetic or semi-synthetic DNA or RNA. The nucleotide sequence of msarp1 is contained in SEQ. ID. NO: 1; the nucleotide sequence of hsarp1 is contained in SEQ. ID. NO: 3, the sequence of hsarp3 is contained in SEQ. ID. NO: 5, and the nucleotide sequence of hsarp2 is contained in SEQ. ID. NO: 18. As described in the examples herein, the mRNA of this gene family has been detected in a variety of human organs and tissues by Northern blot analysis. Expression of hsarp2 mRNA, for example, was detected in most human tissues probed; in exponentially growing human mammary nontransformed cells and in exponentially growing human normal diploid fibroblast cells.

The term “polynucleotide” is used to mean a polymeric form of nucleotides of any length, which contain deoxyribonucleotides, ribonucleotides, and/or their analogs. The terms “polynucleotide” and “nucleotide” as used herein are used interchangeably. Polynucleotides can have any three-dimensional structure, and can perform any function, known or unknown. The term “polynucleotide” includes double-stranded, single-stranded, and triple-helical molecules. Unless otherwise specified or required, any embodiment of the invention described herein that is a polynucleotide encompasses both the double-stranded form and each of two complementary single-stranded forms known or predicted to make up the double stranded form.

The following are non-limiting examples of polynucleotides: a gene or gene fragment, exons, introns, mRNA, tRNA, rRNA, ribozymes, cDNA, recombinant polynucleotides, branched polynucleotides, plasmids, vectors, isolated DNA of any sequence, isolated RNA of any sequence, nucleic acid probes, and primers. A polynucleotide can be comprised of modified nucleotides, such as methylated nucleotides and nucleotide analogs. Analogs of purines and pyrimidines are known in the art, and include, but are not limited to, aziridinylcytosine, 4-acetylcytosine, 5-fluorouracil, 5-bromouracil, 5-carboxymethylaminomethyl-2-thiouracil, 5-carboxymethyl-aminomethyluracil, inosine, N6-isopentenyladenine, 1-methyladenine, 1-methylpseudouracil, 1-methylguanine, 1-methylinosine, 2,2-dimethylguanine, 2-methyladenine, 2-methylguanine, 3-methylcytosine, 5-methylcytosine, pseudouracil, 5-pentynyluracil and 2,6-diaminopurine. The use of uracil as a substitute for thymine in a deoxyribonucleic acid is also considered an analogous form of pyrimidine.

If present, modification to the nucleotide structure can be imparted before or after assembly of the polymer. The sequence of nucleotides can be interrupted by non-nucleotide components. A polynucleotide can be further modified after polymerization, such as by conjugation with a labeling component. Other types of modifications included in this definition are, for example, “caps”, substitution of one or more of the naturally occurring nucleotides with an analog, internucleotide modifications such as, for example, those with uncharged linkages (e.g., methyl phosphonates, phosphotriesters, phosphoamidates, carbamates, etc.) and with charged linkages (e.g., phosphorothioates, phosphorodithioates, etc.), those containing pendant moieties, such as, for example, proteins (e.g., nucleases, toxins, antibodies, signal peptides, poly-L-lysine, etc.), those with intercalators (e.g., acridine, psoralen, etc.), those containing chelators (e.g., metals, radioactive metals, boron, oxidative metals, etc.), those containing alkylators, those with modified linkages (e.g., alpha anomeric nucleic acids, etc.), as well as unmodified forms of the polynucleotide(s).

Further, any of the hydroxyl groups ordinarily present in the sugars can be replaced by phosphonate groups, phosphate groups, protected by standard protecting groups, or activated to prepare additional linkages to additional nucleotides, or can be conjugated to solid supports. The 5′ and 3′ terminal hydroxy groups can be phosphorylated or substituted with amines or organic capping group moieties of from 1 to 20 carbon atoms. Other hydroxyls can also be derivatized to standard protecting groups.

Polynucleotides can also contain analogous forms of ribose or deoxyribose sugars that are generally known in the art, including, but not limited to, 2′-O-methyl-, 2′-O-allyl, 2′-fluoro- or 2′-azido-ribose, carbocyclic sugar analogs, α-anomeric sugars, epimeric sugars such as arabinose, xyloses or lyxoses, pyranose sugars, furanose sugars, sedoheptuloses, acyclic analogs and abasic nucleoside analogs such as methyl riboside.

As noted above, one or more phosphodiester linkages can be replaced by alternative linking groups. These alternative linking groups include, but are not limited to, embodiments wherein phosphate is replaced by P(O)S (“thioate”), P(S)S (“dithioate”), “(O)NR₂ (“amidate”), P(O)R, P(O)OR′, CO or CH₂ (“formacetal”), in which each R or R′ is independently H or substituted or unsubstituted alkyl (1–20 C) optionally containing and ether (—O—) linkage, aryl, alkenyl, cycloalky, cycloalkenyl or araldyl. Not all linkages in a polynucleotide need be identical.

Although conventional sugars and bases will be used in applying the method of the invention, substitution of analogous forms of sugars, purines and pyrimidines can be advantageous in designing a final product, as can alternative backbone structures like a polyamide backbone.

An “antisense” polynucleotide is a sequence complementary to all or part of a functional RNA or DNA. For example, antisense RNA is complementary to sequences of the mRNA copied from the gene.

A “fragment” (also called a “region”) of a polynucleotide (i.e., a polynucleotide encoding a sarp) is a polynucleotide comprised of at least 9 contiguous nucleotides of the novel genes. Preferred fragments are comprised of a region encoding at least 5 contiguous amino acid residues, more preferably, at least 10 contiguous amino acid residues, and even more preferably at least 15 contiguous amino acid residues.

The term “recombinant” polynucleotide as used herein intends a polynucleotide of genomic, cDNA, semisynthetic, or synthetic in origin which, by virtue of its origin or manipulation: is not associated with all or a portion of a polynucleotide with which it is associated in nature; is linked to a polynucleotide other than that to which it is linked in nature; or does not occur in nature.

The terms “polypeptide”, “oligopeptide”, “peptide” and “protein” are used interchangeably herein to refer to polymers of amino acid residues. The polymer can be linear or branched, it can comprise modified amino acid residues, and it can be interrupted by non-amino acid residues. The terms also encompass an amino acid polymer that has been modified naturally or by intervention; for example, by disulfide bond formation, glycosylation, lipidation, acetylation, phosphorylation, or any other manipulation or modification, such as conjugation with a labeling component. Also included within the definition are, for example, polypeptides containing one or more analogs of an amino acid residue (including, for example, unnatural amino acid residues, etc.), as well as other modifications known in the art.

A polypeptide “fragment” (also called a “region”) of a SARP is a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence of a SARP that has at least 5 contiguous amino acid residues of a sequence of a SARP, more preferably at least 8 contiguous amino acid residues, and even more preferably at least about 10 contiguous amino acid residues. For purposes of this invention, a fragment of a SARP can be identified and characterized by any of the following functions: (a) homology to a SARP; (b) ability to change a percentage of cells undergoing apoptosis; or (c) effect cell death. A SARP fragment can have any, more than one, or all of the above identified functions. Methods for determining these functions (a) through (c) will be described below.

A “fusion polypeptide” is a polypeptide comprising regions in a different position in the sequence than occurs in nature. The regions can normally exist in separate proteins and are brought together in the fusion polypeptide; or they can normally exist in the same protein but are placed in a new arrangement in the fusion polypeptide.

A “functionally equivalent fragment” of a SARP polypeptide or sarp polynucleotide preserves at least one property and/or function of the SARP polypeptides or sarp polynucleotides. For example, the sequences can be varied by adding additional nucleotides or peptides as known in the art, such that the functionality of the sequence is not altered. Other examples are deletion and/or substitution of sequences. Alternatively, the sequences can be varied by substituting nucleotides or amino acid residue, or a combination of addition, deletion, or substitution. As is evident to one of skill in the art, functionality of a polypeptide sequence includes characteristics and/or activities of the sequence, such as antigenicity and effect on the apoptotic pathway. It is also clear that functionality of a polynucleotide sequence depends in part upon its intended use, and any functionality that is preserved in a fragment of a polynucleotide satisfies this definition.

For instance, a “functionally equivalent fragment” of a sarp polynucleotide can be one in which an ability to hybridize is preserved, as the desired polynucleotide can be used as a probe. Alternatively, a “functionally equivalent fragment” of a sarp polynucleotide can mean that the polynucleotide encodes a fragment of a SARP that has a function associated with an intact SARP, and preferably a function associated with apoptosis modulation. A functionally equivalent fragment of the novel polypeptides or polynucleotide can have the same, enhanced, or decreased function when compared to the SARP polypeptides or polynucleotides. Other functions of SARP have been listed above. A functionally equivalent fragment has at least 9 nucleotides or at least 5 amino acids, preferably has at least 15 nucleotides or at least 10 amino acids, even more preferably has at least 25 nucleotides or at least 20 amino acids.

“Stringent conditions” for hybridization of both DNA/DNA and DNA/RNA are as described in Sambrook et al. (1989) MOLECULAR CLONING, A LABORATORY MANUAL, 2nd. Ed., Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press. Examples of relevant conditions include (in order of increasing stringency): incubation temperatures of 25° C., 37° C., 50° C., and 68° C.; buffer concentrations of 10×SSC, 6×SSC, 1×SSC (where SSC is 0.15M NaCl and 15 mM citrate buffer) and their equivalent using other buffer systems; formamide concentrations of 0%, 25%, 50% and 75%; incubation times from 5 minutes to 24 hours; 1, 2, or more washing steps; wash incubation times of 1, 2, or 15 minutes; and wash solutions of 6×SSC, 1×SSC, 0.1×SSC, or deionized water.

A “stable duplex” of polynucleotides, or a “stable complex” formed between any two or more components in a biochemical reaction, refers to a duplex or complex that is sufficiently long-lasting to persist between formation of the duplex or complex and subsequent detection, including any optional washing steps or other manipulation that can take place in the interim.

The term “antibody” refers to an immunoglobulin protein or antigen binding fragment that recognizes a particular antigen. Preferably, the antibodies of the present invention (termed αSARP) are not specific to members of the Frizzled family of proteins. Antibodies can be monoclonal or polyclonal. The generation and characterization of antibodies is within the skill of an ordinary artisan. The term “antibody” further encompasses proteins which have been coupled to another compound by chemical conjugation, or by mixing with an excipient or an adjuvant. The term antigen binding fragment includes any peptide that binds to the SARP in a specific manner. Typically, these derivatives include such immunoglobulin fragments as Fab, F(ab′)2, Fab′, scfv (both monomeric and polymeric forms) and isolated H and L chains. The term αSARP encompasses antigen binding fragments. An antigen binding fragment retains the specificity of the intact immunoglobulin, although avidity and/or affinity can be altered.

The antigen binding fragments (also termed “derivatives” herein) are typically generated by genetic engineering, although they can alternatively be obtained by other methods and combinations of methods. This classification includes, but is not limited to, engineered peptide fragments and fusion peptides. Preferred compounds include polypeptide fragments of the CRDs, antibody fusion proteins comprising cytokine effector components, antibody fusion proteins comprising adjuvants or drugs, and single-chain V region proteins. Additionally, the antigen binding fragments of this invention can be used as diagnostic and imaging reagents.

Scfv can be produced either recombinantly or synthetically. For synthetic production of scfv, an automated synthesizer can be used. For recombinant production of scfv, a suitable plasmid containing polynucleotide that encodes the scfv can be introduced into a suitable host cell, either eukaryotic, such as yeast, plant, insect or mammalian cells, or prokaryotic, such as Escherichia coli, and the expressed protein can be isolated using standard protein purification techniques.

A particularly useful system for the production of scfvs is plasmid pET-22b(+) (Novagen, Madison, Wis.) in E. coli. pET-22b(+) contains a nickel ion binding domain consisting of 6 sequential histidine residues, which allows the expressed protein to be purified on a suitable affinity resin. Another example of a suitable vector is pcDNA3 (Invitrogen, San Diego, Calif.), described above.

Conditions of expression should ensure that the scfv assumes optimal tertiary structure. Depending on the plasmid used (especially the activity of the promoter) and the host cell, it may be necessary to modulate the rate of production. For instance, use of a weaker promoter, or expression at lower temperatures, may be necessary to optimize production of properly folded scfv in prokaryotic systems; or, it may be preferably to express scfv in eukaryotic cells.

The invention also encompasses antibodies conjugated to a chemically functional moiety. Typically, the moiety is a label capable of producing a detectable signal. These conjugated antibodies are useful, for example, in detection and imaging systems. Such labels are known in the art and include, but are not limited to, radioisotopes, enzymes, fluorescent compounds, chemiluminescent compounds, bioluminescent compounds substrate cofactors and inhibitors. See, for examples of patents teaching the use of such labels, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,817,837; 3,850,752; 3,939,350; 3,996,345; 4,277,437; 4,275,149; and 4,366,241. The moieties can be covalently linked to the antibodies, recombinantly linked, or conjugated to the antibodies through a secondary reagent, such as a second antibody, protein A, or a biotin-avidin complex.

Methods of antibody production and isolation are well known in the art. See, for example, Harlow and Lane (1988) Antibodies: A Laboratory Manual, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, New York. Purification methods include salt precipitation (for example, with ammonium sulfate), ion exchange chromatography (for example, on a cationic or anionic exchange column run at neutral pH and eluted with step gradients of increasing ionic strength), gel filtration chromatography (including gel filtration HPLC), and chromatography on affinity resins such as protein A, protein G, hydroxyapatite, and anti-immunoglobulin. The antibodies can also be purified on affinity columns comprising a SARP protein; for example, in the form of a purified Ab1 or Ab3. Preferably, the antibodies can be purified using Protein-A-CL-Sepharose™ 4B chromatography followed by chromatography on a DEAE-Sepharose™ 4B ion exchange column.

A “cell line” or “cell culture” denotes higher eukaryotic cells grown or maintained in vitro. It is understood that the descendants of a cell may not be completely identical (either morphologically, genotypically, or phenotypically) to the parent cell.

A “host cell” includes an individual cell or cell culture which can be or has been a recipient for vector(s) or for incorporation of nucleic acid molecules and/or proteins. Host cells include progeny of a single host cell, and the progeny may not necessarily be completely identical (in morphology or in genomic of total DNA complement) to the original parent cell due to natural, accidental, or deliberate mutation. A host cell includes cells transfected in vivo with a polynucleotide(s) of this invention.

A “vector” is a self-replicating nucleic acid molecule that transfers an inserted nucleic acid molecule into and/or between host cells. The term includes vectors that function primarily for insertion of a nucleic acid molecule into a cell, replication of vectors that function primarily for the replication of nucleic acid, and expression vectors that function for transcription and/or translation of the DNA or RNA. Also included are vectors that provide more than one of the above functions. Suitable cloning vectors are known in the art e.g., those for use in bacterial, mammalian, yeast and insect expression systems. Specific vectors and suitable host cells are discussed for instance in Galesa and Ramji Vectors, John Wiley & Sons (1994). Examples of prokaryotic host cells appropriate for use in this invention include, but are not limited to, E. coli and Bacillus subtilis. Examples of eukaryotic host cells include, but are not limited to, avian, insect, plant and animal cells such as C057, HeLa and CHO cells.

“Expression vectors” are defined as polynucleotides which, when introduced into an appropriate host cell, can be transcribed and translated into a polypeptide(s). An “expression system” usually connotes a suitable host cell comprised of an expression vector that can function to yield a desired expression product.

A “signal sequence” is a short amino acid sequence that directs newly synthesized secretory or membrane proteins to and through cellular membranes such as the endoplasmic reticulim. Signal sequences are typically in the N-terminal portion of a polypeptide and are cleaved after the polypeptide has crossed the membrane.

A “gene product” encompasses any product or products of transcription or translation of a gene, including without limitation mRNAs, tRNAs and proteins.

“Heterologous” means derived from (i.e., obtained from) a genotypically distinct entity from the rest of the entity to which it is being compared. For example, a polynucleotide may be placed by genetic engineering techniques into a plasmid or vector derived from a different source, thus becoming a heterologous polynucleotide. A promoter which is linked to a coding sequence with which it is not naturally linked is a heterologous promoter.

The heterologous polynucleotide can comprise a sequence of interest for purposes of therapy, and can optionally be in the form of an expression cassette. As used herein, a vector need not be capable of replication in the ultimate target cell or subject. The term includes cloning vectors for the replication of a polynucleotide, and expression vectors for translation of a polynucleotide encoding sequence. Also included are viral vectors, which comprise a polynucleotide encapsidated or enveloped in a viral particle.

Suitable cloning vectors can be constructed according to standard techniques, or can be selected from a large number of cloning vectors available in the art. While the cloning vector selected can vary according to the host cell intended to be used, useful cloning vectors will generally have the ability to self-replicate, can possess a single target for a particular restriction endonuclease, or can carry genes for a marker that can be used in selecting clones containing the vector. Suitable examples include plasmids and bacterial viruses, e.g., pUC18, mp18, mp19, pBR322, pMB9, ColE1, pCR1, RP4, phage DNAs, and shuttle vectors such as pSA3 and pAT28. These and many other cloning vectors are available from commercial vendors such as BioRad, Stratagene, and Invitrogen.

Expression vectors generally are replicable polynucleotide constructs that contain a polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide of interest. The polynucleotide encoding the polypeptide is operatively linked to suitable transcriptional controlling elements, such as promoters, enhancers and terminators. For expression (i.e., translation), one or more translational controlling elements are also usually required, such as ribosome binding sites, translation initiation sites, and stop codons. These controlling elements (transcriptional and translational) can be derived from the sarp genes, or they can be heterologous (i.e., derived from other genes or other organisms). A polynucleotide sequence encoding a signal peptide can also be included to allow a polypeptide to cross or lodge in cell membranes or be secreted from the cell.

A number of expression vectors suitable for expression in eukaryotic cells including yeast, avian, and mammalian cells are known in the art. One example of an expression vector is pcDNA3 (Invitrogen, San Diego, Calif., in which transcription is driven by the cytomegalovirus (CMV) early promoter/enhancer. This vector also contains recognition sites for multiple restriction enzymes for insertion of the polynucleotide of interest. Another example of an expression vector (system) is the baculovirus/insect system.

A vector of this invention can contain one or more polynucleotides encoding a polypeptide. It can also contain polynucleotide sequences encoding other polypeptides that enhance, facilitate, or modulate the desired result, such as lymphokines, including, but not limited to, IL-2, IL-4 and GM-CSF. A preferred lymphokine is GM-CSF. Preferred GM-CSF constructs are those which have been deleted for the AU-rich elements from the 3′ untranslated regions and sequences in the 5′ untranslated region that are capable of forming a hairpin loop.

The vectors containing the polynucleotides of interest can be introduced into the host cell by any of a number of appropriate means, including electroporation, transfection employing calcium chloride, rubidium chloride, calcium phosphate, DEAE-dextran, or other substances; microprojectile bombardment; lipofection; and infection (where the vector is an infectious agent, such as vaccinia virus, which is discussed below). The choice of means of introducing vectors or polynucleotides will often depend features of the on the host cell. Once introduced into a suitable host cell, expression of a polypeptide can be determined using any assay known in the art. For example, presence of polypeptide can be detected by RIA or ELISA of the culture supernatant (if the polypeptide is secreted) or cell lysates.

An “isolated” or “purified” polynucleotide, polypeptide or antibody is one that is substantially free of the materials with which it is associated in nature. By substantially free is meant at least 50%, preferably at least 70%, more preferably at least 80%, and even more preferably at least 90% free of the materials with which it is associated in nature.

A biological “sample” encompasses a variety of sample types obtained from an individual and is typically used in a diagnostic procedure or assay. The definition encompasses blood and other liquid samples of biological origin, solid tissue samples such as a biopsy specimens or tissue cultures or cells derived therefrom and the progeny thereof. The definition also includes samples that have been manipulated in any way after their procurement, such as by treatment with reagents, solubilization, or enrichment for certain components, such as proteins or polynucleotides. The term encompasses various kinds of clinical samples obtained from any species, and also includes, but is not limited to, cells in culture, cell supernatants, cell lysates, serum, plasma, biological fluid, and tissue samples.

As used herein, “treatment” is an approach for obtaining beneficial or desired clinical results. For purposes of this invention, beneficial or desired clinical results include, but are not limited to, alleviation of symptoms, diminishment of extent of disease, stabilized (i.e., not worsening) state of disease, preventing spread (i.e., metastasis) of disease, delay or slowing of disease progression, amelioration or palliation of the disease state, and remission (whether partial or total), whether detectable or undetectable. “Treatment” can also mean prolonging survival as compared to expected survival in the absence of treatment.

“Apoptosis-associated” refers to any condition in which the apoptosis pathway leading to cell death is involved. These conditions can be normal or pathogenic biological events and can be initiated by a wide variety of signals, including, but not limited to, hormones, serum growth factor deprivation, chemotherapeutic agents, ionizing radiation and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection.

Infarctions are caused by a sudden insufficiency of arterial or venous blood supply due to emboli, thrombi, or pressure that produces a macroscopic area of necrosis; the heart, brain, spleen, kidney, intestine, lung and testes are likely to be affected. Apoptosis occurs to tissues surrounding the infarct upon reperfusion of blood to the area; thus, modulation by a biological modifier-induced change in endogenous production or by in vivo transfection, could be effective at reducing the severity of damage caused by heart attacks and stroke.

Chemotherapeutic agents, ionizing radiation, and infection by HIV also initiate the apoptosis pathway. Currently, a variety of food supplements have been used in an attempt to ameliorate the gastrointestinal disorders that accompany chemotherapy, radiation and AIDS. These supplements generally contain carbohydrates, fats and plant protein hydrolysates. See, e.g., Tomei and Cope et al. in Apoptosis: The Molecular Basis of Cell Death (1991) Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press. PCT Publication No. WO 95/15173 describes plant-derived delipidated extracts capable of producing anti-apoptotic effect. Thus, affecting the molecular basis of apoptosis-associated conditions has therapeutic utility in numerous clinical situations.

“Antisense therapy” is a method of attenuating gene expression using a therapeutic polynucleotide. The therapeutic polynucleotide comprises a sequence or complementary sequence that is capable of forming a stable hybrid with either the target gene itself, or more typically the heteronuclear or messenger RNA transcribed therefrom. Typically, the therapeutic polynucleotide is operatively linked to a suitable promoter. The antisense polynucleotide need not be the exact complement of the target polynucleotide to be effective, so long as stable hybrids form under physiological conditions. A moderate number of mutations, insertions or deletions can be present, depending on the length of the antisense polynucleotide. The antisense polynucleotide need not hybridize with the entire target gene-coding sequence, although longer hybridizing regions are preferred over shorter ones.

An “effective amount” is an amount sufficient to effect beneficial or desired clinical results. An effective amount can be administered in one or more doses. In terms of treatment, an “effective amount” of polynucleotide, and/or polypeptide is an amount sufficient to palliate, ameliorate, stabilize, reverse, slow or delay the progression of apoptosis-associated disease states or otherwise reduce the pathological consequences of the disease. Detection and measurement of these indicators of efficacy are discussed below. The effective amount is generally determined by the physician on a case-by-case basis and is within the skill of one in the art. Several factors are typically taken into account when determining an appropriate dosage. These factors include age, sex and weight of the patient, the condition being treated, the severity of the condition and the form of the antibody being administered. For instance, the concentration of scfv need not be as high as that of native antibodies in order to be therapeutically effective.

An “individual” is a vertebrate, preferably a mammal, more preferably a human. Mammals include farm and sport animals, and pets.

The invention thus includes isolated nucleotide encoding (or complementary thereto) polypeptides substantially identical to (i.e. having at least 90% sequence identity to) SARPs as exemplified by SEQ ID NOS: 2, 4, 6 and 7, with any amino acid substitutions preferably being conservative, or an allelic variant thereof, or to a homologue of SARP from a species other than man. The invention therefore includes, for example, either or both strands of a cDNA encoding a SARP or an allelic variant thereof, a recombinant DNA which is incorporated into a vector, into an autonomously replicating plasmid or virus, or into the genomic DNA of a prokaryotic or eukaryotic cell; or genomic DNA fragments (e.g. produced by PCR or restriction endonuclease treatment of human or other genomic DNA). It also includes a recombinant DNA which is part of a hybrid gene encoding additional polypeptide.

The isolated DNA can be incorporated into a vector (e.g., a virus, phage or plasmid) which can be introduced by transfection or infection into a cell. Suitable vectors include any known in the art, including, but not limited to, those for use in bacterial, mammalian, yeast and insect expression systems. Specific vectors are known in the art and need not be described in detail herein. The vector can include one or more expression control sequences, in which case the cell transfected with the vector is capable of expressing the polypeptide. The vectors can also provide inducible promoters for expression of sarps. Inducible promoters are those which do not allow constitutive expression of the gene but rather, permit expression only under certain circumstances. Such promoters can be induced by a variety of stimuli including, but not limited to, exposure of a cell containing the vector to a ligand, metal ion, other chemical or change in temperature.

These promoters can also be cell-specific, that is, inducible only in a particular cell type and often only during a specific period of time. The promoter can further be cell cycle specific, that is, induced or inducible only during a particular stage in the cell cycle. The promoter can be both cell type specific and cell cycle specific. Any inducible promoter known in the art is suitable for use in the present invention.

Polynucleotides comprising a desired sequence can be inserted into a suitable vector, and the vector in turn can be introduced into a suitable host cell for replication and amplification. Polynucleotides can be inserted into host cells by any means known in the art. Cells are transformed by introducing an exogenous polynucleotide by direct uptake, endocytosis, transfection, f-mating or electroporation. Once introduced, the exogenous polynucleotide can be maintained within the cell as a non-integrated vector (such as a plasmid) or integrated into the host cell genome. Amplified DNA can be isolated from the host cell by standard methods. See, e.g., Sambrook et al. (1989). RNA can also be obtained from transformed host cell, it can be obtained by using an DNA-dependent RNA polymerase.

The invention includes modifications to sarp DNA sequences such as deletions, substitutions and additions particularly in the non-coding regions of genomic DNA. Such changes are useful to facilitate cloning and modify gene expression. Various substitutions can be made within the coding region that either do not alter the amino acid residues encoded or result in conservatively substituted amino acid residues. Nucleotide substitutions that do not alter the amino acid residues encoded are useful for optimizing gene expression in different systems. Suitable substitutions are known to those of skill in the art and are made, for instance, to reflect preferred codon usage in the particular expression systems.

The invention encompasses functionally equivalent variants and derivatives of sarps which can enhance, decrease or not significantly affect the properties of SARPs. For instance, changes in the DNA sequence that do not change the encoded amino acid sequence, as well as those that result in conservative substitutions of amino acid residues, one or a few amino acid deletions or additions, and substitution of amino acid residues by amino acid analogs are those which will not significantly affect its properties.

Amino acid residues which can be conservatively substituted for one another include but are not limited to: glycine/alanine; valine/isoleucine/leucine; asparagine/glutamine; aspartic acid/glutamic acid; serine/threonine; lysine/arginine; and phenylalanine/tyrosine. Any conservative amino acid substitution which does not significantly affect the properties of SARPs is encompassed by the present invention.

Techniques for nucleic acid manipulation useful for the practice of the present invention are described in a variety of references, including but not limited to, Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, 2nd ed., Vol. 1–3, eds. Sambrook et al. Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press (1989); and Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, eds. Ausubel et al., Greene Publishing and Wiley-Interscience: New York (1987) and periodic updates.

Also within the invention is an isolated polynucleotide of at least 15 nucleotides in length, preferably at least 30, more preferably at least 100, and most preferably at least 500, including (a) DNA encoding a SARP, (b) the complement thereof; or a double stranded DNA including both (a) and (b). Multiple copies of this isolated DNA (useful, for example, as a hybridization probe or PCR primer) can be produced synthetically or by recombinant means, by transfecting a cell with a vector containing this DNA.

The invention also includes a purified preparations of SARP peptides, or fragments of these peptides that comprise an antigenic polypeptide containing at least 10 amino acid residues of the peptide (preferably at least 11, more preferably at least 14, and most preferably at least 18), which polypeptide fragment contains an epitope of the peptide such that an antibody raised against the fragment (or against a conjugate of the polypeptide and, if necessary, a carrier molecule) forms an immune complex with the peptide itself. Purification or isolation of SARPs expressed either by the recombinant DNA or from biological sources can be accomplished by any method known in the art. Generally, substantially purified proteins are those which are free of other, contaminating cellular substances, particularly proteins. Preferably, the purified peptides are more than eighty percent pure and most preferably more than ninety-five percent pure.

Suitable methods of protein purification are known in the art and include, but are not limited to, affinity chromatography, immunoaffinity chromatography, size exclusion chromatography, HPLC and FPLC. Any purification scheme that does not result in substantial degradation of the protein is suitable for use in the present invention.

The invention further comprises suitable antibodies are generated by using a SARP as an antigen or, preferably, peptides encompassing regions of SARPs that lack substantial homology to the other gene products such as the Frizzled proteins. Such an antibody can either be polyclonal or monoclonal, and is generated by standard methods including the step of immunizing an animal with an antigen containing an antigenic portion of at least one SARP.

Also encompassed within the invention are hybrid polypeptides containing: (1) SARP or an antigenic fragment thereof, covalently attached to (2) a second polypeptide. Such hybrid polypeptides can be made by a number of standard techniques well known to those of ordinary skill, including recombinant methods, in which case the covalent attachment is a peptide bond, or chemical conjugation in which case the covalent attachment is another type of bond, such as a disulfide bond. Linking a SARP or an antigenic fragment thereof to a second polypeptide provides a means for readily isolating the hybrid from a mixture of proteins, by the use of an affinity column to which the second polypeptide (e.g. glutathione transferase) binds directly. Such hybrid polypeptides can also have the advantage of increased immunogenicity relative to SARP or a fragment thereof, so that antibodies are more readily obtained.

Both the isolated nucleotides of the invention and the antibodies of the invention are useful in detecting SARP expression. Any method for detecting specific mRNA species is suitable for use in this method. This is easily accomplished using PCR. Preferably, the primers chosen for PCR correspond to the regions of the sarp genes that lack substantial homology to other genes. Alternatively, Northern blots can be utilized to detect sarp mRNA by using probes specific to these genes. Methods of utilizing PCR and Northern blots are known in the art and are not described in detail herein.

Transgenic animals containing the sarp nucleotides are also encompassed by the invention. Methods of making transgenic animals are known in the art and need not be described in detail herein. For a review of methods used to make transgenic animals, see, e.g. PCT publication no. WO 93/04169. Preferably, such animals express recombinant sawps under control of a cell-specific and, even more preferably, a cell cycle specific promoter.

In another embodiment, diagnostic methods are provided to detect the expression of the novel gene family either at the protein level or the mRNA level. Abnormal levels of SARPs are likely to be found in the tissues of patients with diseases associated with inappropriate apoptosis; diagnostic methods are therefore useful for detecting and monitoring biological conditions associated with such apoptosis defects.

Detection methods are also useful for monitoring the success of SARP-related therapies. Both the isolated sarp nucleotides and the antibodies of the invention are useful in diagnostic methods. One such diagnostic method includes the steps of providing a test cell (e.g. in the form of a tissue section or a cell preparation) from a given type of tissue; contacting the mRNA of the test cell with a nucleic acid probe containing a sequence antisense (i.e. complementary to the sense strand of) a segment of a sarp gene. The segment is at least 15 nucleotides in length, preferably at least 20, more preferably at least 30, even more preferably at least 40 and most preferably at least 100 nucleotides in length. The amount of hybridization of the probe to the mRNA of the test cell is compared to the amount of hybridization of the probe to the mRNA of a normal control (i.e. non-apoptotic) cell from the same type of tissue. An increased amount of hybridization in the test cell is an indication that the test cell will have an increased incidence of apoptosis. The assay can be conveniently carried out using standard techniques of in situ hybridization or Northern analysis.

The antibody-based assays of the invention are comparable to the above. The proteins of the test cell, or from a fluid bathing the test cell, are contacted with an antibody (polyclonal or monoclonal) specific for a SARP, and the amount of immunocomplex formed with such proteins is compared with the amount formed by the same antibody with the proteins of a normal control cell (or fluid bathing a normal control cell) from the same type of tissue as the test cell.

In another embodiment, treatment of apoptosis-associated conditions are provided. The invention thus encompasses ex vivo transfection with the sarp gene family, in which cells removed from animals including man are transfected with vectors encoding SARPs or antisense sarps and reintroduced into animals. Suitable transfected cells include individual cells or cells contained within whole tissues. In addition, ex vivo transfection can include the transfection of cells derived from an animal other than the animal or human subject into which the cells are ultimately introduced. Such grafts include, but are not limited to, allografts, xenografts, and fetal tissue transplantation.

The present invention also encompasses antisense therapy to attenuate levels of SARP. Antisense polynucleotides need not be the exact complement of the target polynucleotide to be effective, so long as stable hybrids form under physiological conditions. A moderate number of mutations, insertions or deletions can be present, depending on the length of the antisense polynucleotide. Preferably, the complementary sequence of the antisense polynucleotide is 50% identical to that of the target, including base differences, insertions, and deletions. More preferably, the sequences are about 75% identical; even more preferably they are about 85% identical; still more preferably they are about 95% identical; and most preferably, they are completely identical. The antisense polynucleotide need not hybridize with the entire SARP encoding sequence, although longer hybridizing regions are preferred over shorter ones. Preferably, the hybridizing region is at least about 30 bases in length; more preferably it is at least about 60 bases; even more preferably it is at least about 100 bases; more preferably it is at least about 200 bases or more.

Essentially any cell or tissue type can be treated in this manner. Suitable cells include, but are not limited to, cardiomyocytes and lymphocytes. As an example, in treatment of HIV-infected patients by the above-described method, the white blood cells are removed from the patient and sorted to yield the CD4⁺ cells. The CD4⁺ cells are then transfected with a vector encoding either SARP or antisense to sarp and reintroduced into the patient. Alternatively, the unsorted lymphocytes can be transfected with a recombinant vector having at least one sarp-modulator under the control of a cell-specific promoter such that only CD4⁺ cells express or down-regulate the sarp genes. In this case, an ideal promoter would be the CD4 promoter; however, any suitable CD4⁺ T cell-specific promoter can be used.

The practice of the present invention employs, unless otherwise indicated, conventional molecular biological techniques, which are within the skill of the art. See e.g., “Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual”, second edition (Sambrook et al., 1989); “Oligonucleotide Synthesis” (M. J. Gait, ed., 1984); “Animal Cell Culture” (R. I. Freshney, ed., 1987); “Methods in Enzymology” (Academic Press, Inc.); “Handbook of Experimental Immunology” (D. M. Wei & C. C. Blackwell, eds.); “Gene Transfer Vectors for Mammalian Cells” (J. M. Miller & M. P. Calos, eds., 1987); “Current Protocols in Molecular Biology” (F. M. Ausubel et al., eds., 1987); “PCR: The Polymerase Chain Reaction”, (Mullis et al., eds., 1994); “Current Protocols in Immunology” (J. E. Coligan et al., eds., 1991).

The following examples are provided to illustrate but not limit the present invention.

EXAMPLE 1 Identification and Cloning of the sarp Family cDNAs

Cells and Tissues

All cell lines were obtained from the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) and grown and maintained according to the supplier's recommendations.

Tissue specimens for an RNA isolation were taken from male 20 g BALB/c mice (Babko). The primary cardiomyocytes were prepared from hearts of a day-old Sprague Dawley rats according to a technique described by Simpson (1985). The ischemia was performed in a serum and glucose free RPMI media by incubating the cells during 8 hours at 37° C. in an atmosphere of 95% N₂/5% CO₂. The postischemic reperfusion was stimulated by adding of fetal bovine serum (FBS) to 10%, glucose to 2 g/L and placing the cells in 5% CO₂ at 37° C. for 16 hours. For viral infection, the cells were incubated with appropriate amount of the infectious particles in serum free media at 37° C. 2 hour. Then the medium was replaced by the regular growth medium (RPMI/10% FBS). The adenovirus titers were determined by limiting dilution and plaque assay using 293 cells exposed to the virus dilutions. The number of viruses capable to infect 80–90% of cells was determined with the β-galactosidase virus infected cells and X-Gal (5-bromo-4-chloro-3-indolyl β-D-galactoside) staining.

Oligonucleotide Synthesis

Primers for DNA sequencing and PCR, adapters were synthesized on an Applied Biosystems model 394, gel purified and desalted using Sep-Pak® C18 cartridges (Water Associates). A 14-mer (5′CCTGTAGATCTCCC 3′, SEQ. ID. NO: 15) and an 18-mer (5′ATTTCGGAGATCTACAGG 3′, SEQ. ID. NO: 16) oligonucleotides were used with the EcoRI-BgIII adapter. For differential display reactions an arbitrary d(N10) and an anchored oligo(T) such as TTTTTTTTTTTTTTTNS (SEQ. ID. NO: 17) were used.

RNA Isolation

RNA from different cell lines and tissues was isolated using the guanidine-isothiocyanate method of Chomezinski and Sacchi (1987). RNA concentration was determined by spectrophotometry (Sambrook et al., 1989). 20 μg samples of total RNA were subjected to electrophoresis in a 1.2% agarose-formaldehyde gel (Sambrook et al., 1989) and visualized using ethidium bromide. RNA was then transferred using 10×.SSC (1×.SSC is 0.15M NaCl/0.015M Na-citrate) by diffusion onto a nylon membrane (Hybond® N+, Amersham) according to the method of Lichtenstein et al. (1990). Membrane-bound RNA was crosslinked by UV-irradiation as recommended by the manufacturers.

Differential Display

For differential display reactions the first strand cDNA was synthesized using 2 μg of total RNA isolated from either logarithmically growing or quiescent 10T1/2 cells. First strand synthesis was primed using an anchored oligo(dt) with Superscript Reverse Transcriptase (Gibco) according to the manufacturer's protocol. In PCR reactions, arbitrary d(N10) and anchored oligo(dt) primers were used. PCR conditions were essentially the same as published originally in Liang & Pardee, 1992. The PCR-amplified cDNA products were resolved on a 6% DNA sequencing gel (Sambrook et al., 1989). Differentially displayed bands were excised from the gel, reamplified using the same primers and conditions, and inserted into pCRScript (Stratagene).

Construction of the cDNA Library

The mouse 10T1/2 fibroblast λZAP II based cDNA library was constructed essentially as described in (Zapf et al. 1990) with some modifications. Two 40 μl reaction mixtures were prepared containing 10 μg heat denatured poly(A+)RNA, 1× First Strand Buffer (Gibco BRL), 10 mM DTT, 50 units of RNase Block (Stratagene), 2 mM of each dATP, dCTP, dGTP and dTTP, 10 μCi [a-³²P]dCTP, 400 U Superscript Reverse Transcriptase II (Gibco). 2.5 μg oligo(dt) was added to one reaction mixture and 25 μg d(N6) to the other mixture. Both reaction mixtures were incubated for 1 hour at 42° C. and terminated by heating at 65° C. for 10 min. Second strand synthesis was performed by first adding 362 μL H₂O, 80 μL of 5× second strand reaction buffer (100 mM Tris-HCl pH(7.5), 500 mM KCl, 25 mM MgCl₂, 50 mM DTT), and 1.5 μL of 15 mg/mL BSA to the first strand reactions. Second strand synthesis was initiated by adding 12 μL of 10 U/μL E. coli DNA polymerase I (NEB) and 2.5 μL of 1 U/μL RNase H (Pharmacia). Reactions were incubated for 1 hour at 15° C., and 1 hour at room temperature. The two reactions, now double stranded cDNA, were combined and ligated to the EcoRI-BglII adapters (Zapf et al. 1990). Low molecular weight cDNA species and unligated adapters were separated using Bio-Gel® A-15 m chromatography (Bio Rad). The ligation of the cDNA to λZAP II/EcoRI/CIAP (Stratagene) was carried out according to the manufacturer's instructions. Packaging and titration were performed essentially following to the supplier's instructions (Stratagene). A library of 8×10⁶ independent recombinant clones was obtained.

Cloning of the Differentially Displaced Gene from Mouse Cells.

To isolate msarp1 cDNA, the quiescent 10T1/2 cell library was screened using the PCR insert as a probe. Approximately 2.5×10⁵ to 3.0×10⁵ recombinant phages were plated in E. coli XL-Blue (Stratagene) and, transferred onto nitrocellulose filters (Millipore) according to the manufacturer's instructions. The DNA fragments were ³²P-labeled according to the method described in Feinberg and Vogelstein (1984) Anal. Biochem. 137:266–267 and used to screen the library according to the method described in Keifer et al. (1991).

The largest clone, msarp1, was then chosen for further analysis. DNA sequencing of msarp1 was performed by the Sanger & Nicholson dideoxynucleotide method, using M13 forward and internally specific primers.

The msarp1 gene contains a single extended open reading frame encoding a predicted protein product of 295 amino acids (mSARP1), 252 bp of 5′-untranslated sequence and 891 bp of 3′-untranslated sequence with two putative polyadenylation signals positioned 637 bp and 234 bp from the 3′-end. Interestingly the 3′-untranslated region contains eleven conserved 3′-UTR/HMG motifs thought to be involved in posttranscriptional degradation of mRNA (Reeves et al., 1987). Global alignment of the msarp1 sequence to Entrez (14.0) using the MacVector package revealed homology to genes encoding for the seven-transmembrane rat proteins homologs of the Drosophila melanogaster frizzled (fz) gene product.

The msarp1 gene does not have any transmembrane regions, and the C-terminal region is rich in basic amino acids. msarp1 has one hydrophobic stretch, which may represent a signal sequence. Multiple alignments using Entrez and the NCBI gene sequence data banks showed strong homology between the N-terminal region of mSARP1 and the extracellular parts of mouse (FIG. 1B), rat and human genes products. The C-terminal region of mSARP1 contains several short polypeptide stretches which show homology to the sites of frizzled proteins positioned between the transmembrane regions. The EST database revealed a 400 bp DNA sequence isolated from a human breast cDNA library which showed 75% identity to msarp1.

Cloning of Human cDNAs

A human pancreas and human heart cDNA libraries were obtained from Clontech and screened using msarp1 cDNA as a probe. Two cDNA clones, hsarp1 and hsarp3, were recovered from the pancreas library and subjected to further analysis. One clone, hsarp2, was obtained from the human heart cDNA. The hsarp2 cDNA sequence [SEQ ID NO: 18] contains 1302 nucleotides. The full length sequence includes 301 nucleotides of the 5′ untranslated region and 62 nucleotides of 3′ untranslated region. The hsarp2 cDNA contains one major ORF (hSARP2). The ATG start site is found at position 303, and the termination site is at position 1248. The hsarp2 gene encodes a polypeptide of 314 amino acid residues with an N-terminal methionine and C-terminal lysine. Clone hsarp1 is 890 nucleotides in length and encodes a polypeptide having about 95% homology to msarp1. The ATG of hsarp1 is at position 203 and there is a putative signal peptide recognition site 23 amino acids downstream of the N-terminus. The hsarp3 clone is 1923 nucleotides and encodes a polypeptide 316 amino acids including a putative 28 amino acid secretion signal at the N-terminus.

EXAMPLE 2 Expression of Novel Genes in Tissue Types

Isolated DNA fragments were labeled with [³²P]dCTP (3000 Ci/mmol, Amersham) in a random priming reaction according to Feinberg and Vogelstein, (1982), supra. Hybridization was carried out according to the standard protocol described in Sambrook et al. (1989), supra. The membranes were washed two times with 2×SSC at room temperature for 30 minutes. Following two additional washes at 56° C. in 0.1×SSC, 0.1% SDS, the membranes were autoradiographed onto a Kodak X-Omat® films.

Expression of msarp1 in Mouse Tissue

To analyze msarp1 expression in mouse tissues, Northern blots of various mouse tissues were prepared according to the standard protocol. The results are shown in FIG. 2. High levels of expression were detected in mouse heart and lung. Detectable amounts of transcript were revealed also in kidney. No other mouse tissues expressed the RNA corresponding to msarp1. No expression of msarp1 was detected in transformed cell lines FL5.12; WI-L2; S49; HT29; MCF7.

Expression of the Novel Genes in Human Tissue

To determine expression of the sarp gene family in human tissues, Clontech® human multiple tissue Northern blots were probed with labeled hsarp1, hsarp2, and hsarp3, as described above. FIGS. 3A (hsarp2) and 3B (hsarp1 and hsarp3) show the tissue specific expression of hsarp1, hsarp2, and hsarp3.

The results indicate that hsarp2 is expressed in almost all tissue types analyzed (FIG. 3A). Hybridization showed an RNA band sized approximately 5.0 kb. The highest levels of hsarp1 expression were found in pancreas, colon, prostate and small intestine. FIG. 3B. Lower levels of expression were detected in heart, brain, lung, skeletal muscle and prostate. Thymus, spleen, peripheral blood leukocytes, testis, ovary, placenta, liver, kidney and all fetal human tissues have faint or no signals. Hybridization to all tissue types except brain revealed two transcripts of 2.1 kb and 1.6 kb in length, probably reflecting an alternative utilization of the two polyadenylation signals identified in 3′-UTR.

hsarp3 is expressed predominantly in pancreas, and has only one RNA transcript of 2.1 kb in size (FIG. 3B).

Expression of hsarp2 in several transformed and non transformed cell lines was analyzed. No hsarp2 expression was observed in all transformed cell line analyzed. The expression of hsarp2 is detectable in exponentially growing human mammary nontransformed cells and suppressed when the cells reach quiescent conditions (FIG. 4). The same expression pattern of hsarp2 was seen in normal human diploid fibroblast cells.

EXAMPLE 3 Expression of msarp1 in 10T1/2 Cells

To determine differential expression of msarp1, transcription of the gene was evaluated in 10T1/2 cells. Significant induction of msarp1 transcription was seen as the 10T1/2 cells reached quiescence (see FIG. 5). Cells grown to quiescence were reseeded at low density in three plates. At different time points after reseeding, the cells from one of the plates were extracted for RNA isolation, the cells of second plate were used for cell cycle analysis and the third plate of cells deprived of serum for 24 hours to estimate the number of dead cells.

FIG. 5 represents Northern hybridization of the differentially displayed DNA fragment to the RNA samples isolated from the 10T1/2 cells at different phases of growth: 1–3—exponentially growing, 90 to 95% confluent and quiescent (G₀) cells respectively; 4–6—the quiescent cells were replated at lower density and harvested after 0, 2 and 6 hours, respectively. FIG. 5 indicates that the message corresponding to msarp1 disappears shortly after reseeding. Analysis of the second plate indicated that reseeded cells enter the cell cycle 16 hours after reseeding. No significant change in the number of dead cells was observed in the serum-deprived plates. These results suggest in the first 2–3 hours after low density reseeding quiescent cells produce an antiapoptotic factor or factors, in sufficient amounts to maintain typical quiescent cell resistance to serum deprivation.

Since it has previously been shown that media conditioned with exponentially growing 10T1/2 cells also prevents apoptosis, we also analyzed msarp1 expression in serum deprived exponentially growing cells. RNA was isolated at different time points after removal of serum. Hybridization revealed significant induction of the msarp1 message by the 16th hour after serum removal. No induction of msarp1 was observed in cells grown in serum free media supplemented with TPA.

EXAMPLE 4 Expression of msarp1 After Ischemic Injury to Cardiomyocytes

We had previously shown that ischemic injury to myocardial cells triggers apoptosis during reperfusion. Further, we have also shown that the human clone, hsarp1, is expressed in adult heart tissue and not in fetal heart tissue. To determine msarp1 expression relating to ischemic injury and apoptosis, cardiomyocyte cells were subjected to a variety of stressing stimuli. RNA isolated from these cells was electrophoresed and transferred to a membrane for hybridization. Blots probed with msarp1 showed upregulation of msarp1 in all stressed cells. As in the case of human fetal heart tissue, no RNA species corresponding to msarp1 were found in unstressed, primary cardiomyocytes obtained from newborn rats.

EXAMPLE 5 mSARP1 Peptide Interacts with Cell Surface Proteins

mSARP1 was stably transfected into MCF7 cells by first introducing a SacI fragment of msarp1 into the EcoRV/Not1 sites in pcDNA3. The pcDNA3 construct was then transfected into MCF7 cells using LipofectAMINE reagent (Gibco BRL) according to the manufacturer's instructions.

For indirect immunostaining, trypsinized cells were incubated with rabbit anti-mSARP1 antisera at a 1:100 dilution for 1 hour at 4° C. The cells were washed three times with PBS supplemented with 1% BSA and then incubated with 20 μg/mL FITC-labeled secondary antibodies (Boehringer Mannheim). The cells were analyzed on Becton-Dickinson FACS system, and the resulting data analyzed using CellQuest™ software (Becton Dickinson).

EXAMPLE 6 Apoptotic Effects of hSARP2

The NotI/XbaI fragment of hsarp2 was inserted into the NotI/XbaI sites of the mammalian expression vector pcDNA3 (Invitrogen). MCF7 breast carcinoma cells were transfected with this construct using LipofectAMINE reagent (Gibco BRL) according to manufacturer's protocol. The percentage of living cells was estimated by counting the relative amount of adherent cells using a Coulter Counter® (NZ). As shown in FIG. 6, hsarp2 expression causes decrease in the percentage of viable cells. The cells were also treated with hTNF (50 ng/ml) and adriamycin (1 μg/ml). The results obtained are depicted in FIG. 6.

EXAMPLE 7 Effect of mSARP1 on Cardiomyocyte Death

RNA from rat neonatal primary cardiomyocytes was isolated after treatments inducing cell death, such as glucose, serum, or serum and glucose deprivation. Ischemia was simulated by placing the cells in oxygen and growth factor deprived condition for 8 hours followed by 16 hours of incubation in normal environment (referred to as a “reperfusion”). The Northern hybridization presented in FIG. 7 show that sarp1 expression in the cells surviving these treatments is upregulated.

In a second experiment, cardiomyocytes plated at high density were infected with recombinant viruses at a multiplicities of 50 and 100 infectious particles per cell. The msarp1 containing recombinant adenovirus was constructed by subcloning of the corresponding cDNA SacI fragment into the NotI/EcoRV site of pAdLXR-1 adenoviral replication-deficient vector. The virus bearing β-galactosidase gene was used as a control. After the infection cells were subjected for 24 hours to serum deprivation or treatment with adriamycin. The cell viability was calculated as a percentage of the adherent cells, in experimental conditions, taken from those of control samples. The results presented in FIG. 8 show that after serum deprivation or adriamycin treatment the amount of viable msarp1-virus infected cells is significantly higher than that for β-galactosidase infected or control, non infected cells.

EXAMPLE 8 Effect of SARP Expression on Apoptosis

C3H/10T1/2 cells were grown in Eagle's basal medium (BME) supplemented with 10% heat-inactivated fetal bovine serum (FBS) at 37° C. in a humidified 5% CO₂ atmosphere without antibiotics. Cells were plated at 2×10³ cells/mL and fed every 3–4 days. Approximately 2 weeks after the initial seeding, the cells were completely quiescent and few if any mitotic cells were present. To analyze the effect of serum deprivation or cycloheximide treatment, the exponentially proliferating (approximately 75% confluent) or quiescent cultures were transferred to serum-free medium or medium supplemented with 10 μg/mL cycloheximide. At 24 hours, the apoptotic (i.e. non-adherent) cells and the non-apoptotic (i.e. adherent) cells were collected separately and their amounts were evaluated using a cell counter (Coulter Counter® ZM). Serum free conditioned medium was obtained after 24 hour incubation of quiescent 10T1/2 cells in BME. The RNA was isolated by the guanidine-isothiocyanate method described in Chomezinski and Sacchi (1987) Anal. Biochem., 162:156–59. 20 μg samples of total RNA were subjected to electrophoresis in a 1.2% agarose formaldehyde gel. Sambrook et al. (eds) (1989).

It has previously been shown that exponentially proliferating 10T1/2 cells are especially sensitive to serum deprivation and die by apoptosis. Tomei et al. (1993) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 90:853–857. FIG. 9A shows that after 24 hours in a serum free medium, about 50% of the cells detach and are found to be apoptotic. When cell cultures reach density dependent quiescence, cells become resistant to withdrawal of growth factors and other serum components.

Similarly, quiescent cells are significantly more resistant to the cytotoxic effects of staurosporine, menadione and cis-platinum. These are pro-apoptotic agents that have differing mechanisms of action. During exponential proliferation apoptosis is delayed by the addition of cycloheximide. In contrast, inhibition of protein synthesis rapidly induces death in quiescent cells arrested in G₀ (FIG. 9A). Apoptosis of G₀ is also induced by puromycin, as well as inhibition of RNA synthesis by actinomycin D or α-amanitin. These results imply that in quiescent 10T1/2 cultures, cells possess all components of the apoptotic pathway but activation is suppressed by quiescent state specific protein(s). This viewpoint is consistent with the observation that conditioned medium from quiescent 10T1/2 cells can inhibit apoptotic death of both serum deprived exponentially growing and cycloheximide treated quiescent 10T1/2 cells (FIG. 9B). These results strongly suggest that the anti-apoptotic protein(s) is secreted from quiescent 10T1/2 cells and influences the response of neighboring cells.

To clone cDNA corresponding to this mRNA species, the 10T1/2 quiescent cells, human heart and pancreas cDNA libraries were screened using the differentially displayed DNA fragment as a probe. Four different recombinants were identified. Two of them screened from 10T1/2 and human pancreas were orthologous and designated as msarp1 and hsarp1. The other two clones hsarp2 and hsarp3, were obtained from the human heart and pancreas libraries, respectively. With the exception of hsarp1, these cDNA clones have a single extended open reading frame predicting full length proteins which share several common structural properties. Starting from the N-terminus, the hydrophobic putative signal peptides are followed by the mature protein sequences, 270–300 amino acids in length with 16 invariant cysteines. Of these, 10 cysteines are located in the N-terminal 110 to 120 amino acids segments which are 25–30% identical to the extracellular cysteine rich domain (“CRD”) of frizzled-like proteins. None of the hsarp group contains transmembrane regions which are characteristic of frizzled-like proteins. Wang et al. (1996) J. Biol. Chem. 271:4468–4476. The partial polypeptide sequencing of hSARP1 has revealed about 95% identity with the mSARP1.

The MCF7 breast adenocarcinoma cell line was chosen as a model to study the involvement of SARP proteins in the processes of apoptosis. The programmed cell death of these cells induced by different agents has been well characterized. Zyed et al. (1994) Cancer Res. 54:825–831. This cell type does not express either sarp1 or sarp2. MCF7 cells were stably transfected with a pcDNA3 mammalian expression vector bearing full length msarp1 or hsarp2. The transfectants expressing msarp1 and hsarp2 were selected by Northern hybridization. The growth rate and cell cycle of transfected MCF7 cells were not significantly different from the parental cells; however, the results presented in FIG. 10(A) demonstrate that the expression of mSARP1 and hSARP2 had opposite effects on cell sensitivity to cytotoxic stimuli. The expression of mSARP1 resulted in higher resistance, expression of hSARP2 sensitized the cells to apoptosis induced by TNF and by ceramide, a secondary messenger in apoptotic pathways caused by various agents. Hannun and Obeid (1995) T. Biochem. Sci. 20:73–7; and Kolesnick and Fuks (1995) J. Exp. Med. 181:1949–52.

Due to the fact that SARPs have the signal sequences but no transmembrane domains, it was believed that they are secreted proteins. This theory was tested as follows. Polyclonal anti-mSARP1 antibodies were raised against the GST-mSARP1 recombinant protein and affinity purified using MBP-mSARP1 affinity column. Bacterial expression of GST-mSARP1 and MBP-mSARP1 fusion proteins was carried out using the pGEX-5X-2 (Pharmacia) and pMAL (NEB) vectors, respectively. For anti-hSARP2 antibodies a polypeptide derived from non-Frizzled-like C-terminal domain (167–185aa) (SEQ. ID. NO: 19) of the protein was used as an immunogen. Using the resultant affinity purified anti-mSARP1 or anti-hSARP2 antibodies, the secreted proteins were detected in the conditioned media from both the transformed MCF7 cells and untransformed quiescent 10T1/2 (FIG. 10(C)). Notably, the mSARP antibodies fail to interact with hSARP2.

The experiments described identify a new family of genes capable of modulating cellular apoptotic response to cytotoxic signals. It is important to note the high degree of sequence similarity between SARP CRDs and the similar regions of the frizzled proteins, a class of cellular membrane receptors with seven transmembrane domains. In Drosophila melanogaster, frizzled proteins are involved in regulation of bristle and hair polarity. Adler (1992) Cell 69:1073–1087. Recently, the ability of Dfz2, a frizzled protein family member, to function as a receptor for Wingless protein was reported. Bhanot et al. (1996) Nature 382:225–230. Wingless is a member of Wnt gene family whose products are involved in cell-cell and cell-extracellular matrix interaction. Nusse and Varmus (1992) Cell 69:1073–1087. Secreted proteins SARPs are involved with regulation of Wnt-frizzled protein interaction. From this viewpoint it is interesting that expression of the members of all three gene families, frizzled, Wnt and sarp, is tissue specific. Wang et al. (1996); Nusse and Varmus (1992); Gavin et al. (1990) Genes and Devel 4:2319–2332; and Chan et al. (1992) J. Biol. Chem. 267:25202–25207. The role of cell-cell and cell-extracellular matrix interaction in regulation of apoptosis is well documented. Rouslahti and Reed (1994) Cell 77:477–478; Bates et al. (1994) Cell. Biol. 125:403–415; and Boudreau et al. (1995) Science 267:891–893. Thus, among other functions all three families of genes are involved in the regulation of programmed cell death.

EXAMPLE 9 Comparison of hsarp Expression in Human Normal and Neoplastic Cells

In this example, human normal and neoplastic tissues were evaluated for their expression of hsarp genes. Normal and neoplastic prostate epithelial tissues were assessed for hsarp1 expression, and normal and neoplastic mammary tissues were assessed for hsarp2 expression.

Experiments were performed as follows: First, digoxigenin (DIG) labeled hsarp RNA probes were obtained using RNA DIG labeling kit (Boerhinger Mannheim GmbH, Concord, Calif.) according to the protocol given in Nonradioactive in Situ Hybridization Application Manual, Second Edition, 1996, p. 44. Then, 5 μm formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded cancer tissue (prostate epithelial or mammary) sections were hybridized with the appropriate DIG labeled hsarp1 or hsarp2 RNA probe. Finally, detection of mRNA was performed using a Genius kit (Boerhinger Mannheim GmbH, Concord, Calif.) according to the protocol given in Nonradioactive in Situ Hybridization Application Manual, Second Edition, 1996, p. 127.

FIGS. 11 (prostate epithelial tissue) and 12 (mammary tissue) show the results. Expression of hsarp1 is elevated in prostate tumor cells as compared to the normal tissue control, as evidenced by the pervasive dark area in the 10× and 40× cancer sample as compared to the normal sample. Expression of hsarp2 is suppressed in mammary tumor cells as compared to the normal tissue control. These results support the anti- and pro-apoptotic activity of hSARP1 and hSARP2, respectively. This example shows that detection of sarp gene products in tissues can be used to diagnose a variety of diseases associated with the modulation of hsarp expression, including cancers. Further, because hSARPs are secreted proteins, bodily fluid samples can also be used for such diagnostic purposes.

While this example specifically demonstrates the use of in situ hybridization using an mRNA probe for detection of sarp gene products, alternative methods of detecting the presence of amino acids or nucleic acids in both tissue and bodily fluid are well known in the art. Further, one skilled in these fields is capable of selecting appropriate probes for use in methods of the present invention based on the sequences disclosed herein or incorporated by reference.

EXAMPLE 10 Expression of SARPs Modifies the Intracellular Levels of β-catenin

In the previous examples, it was shown that the sarp genes encode secreted proteins capable of modifing cell response to pro-apoptotic stimuli. This experiment evaluates the ability of SARP proteins to interfere with the Wnt-frizzled proteins signaling pathway. Recently, it was shown that frizzled proteins function as receptors for members of the Wnt protein family. Yang-Snyder et al. (1996) Curr Biol 6:1302–6; Bhanot et al. (1996) Nature 382:225–30; Orsulic et al. (1996) Current Biology 6:1363–1267; and Perrimon (1996) Cell 86:513–516.

Interaction of Wnt family members with their respective frizzled receptor causes inactivation of glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK-3) or its Drosophila homologue Zw-3. Pai et al. (1997) Development 124:2255–66; Cook et al. (1996) EMBO J. 15:4526–4536; and Siegfried et al. (1994) Nature 367:76–80. In the absence of Wnt, GSK-3β phosphorylates β-catenin (Armadillo is its Drosophila homologue). Phosphorylated β-catenin or Armadillo are degraded more rapidly than non-phosphorylated forms of the proteins. Perrimon (1996) Cell 86:513–516; Siegfried et al. (1994) Nature 367:76–80; Rubinfeld et al. (1996) Science 272:1023–6; and Yost et al. (1996) Genes and Development 10:1443–1454. As a result, Wnt signaling causes changes in intracellular concentration of β-catenin or Armadillo and this parameter has been used to register Wnt-frizzled proteins interaction and signal transduction. Bhanot et al. (1996) Nature 382:225–30. Because SARPs are soluble proteins possessing a domain homologous to CRD of frizzled proteins it was hypothesized that they functioned by interference with Wnt-frizzled protein interaction.

Recently it was shown that β-catenin accumulated in colon cancer (Korinek et al. (1997) Science 275:1784–7; and Morin et al. (1997) Science 275:1787–90); and melanomas (Rubinfeld et al. (1997) Science 275:1790–2), that had mutations in tumor suppressor APC. Moreover regulation of β-catenin is critical to APC's tumor suppressive effect. Morin et al. (1997) Science 275:1787–90. The results herein described show a correlation between the levels of β-catenin and the expression of the SARP family members which possess pro- or anti-apoptotic activity. A higher level of β-catenin in tumors is associated with a reduction in apoptotic cell death, a feature characteristic of carcinogenesis. Thompson (1995) Science 267:1456–1462.

To determine whether SARPs interfered with Wnt-frizzled protein interaction, the expression of β-catenin in MCF7-transfectants was compared. The experiment was performed as follows. Cell Cultures. MCF7 human breast adenocarcinoma cells were plated at 2×10⁵ cells/ml and cultured in Modified Eagle Medium (MEM) supplemented with 10% FBS. Serum free conditioned medium was obtained after 24 hour incubation of quiescent MCF7 cells in MEM.

Transfection of MCF7. MCF7 cells were transfected with the pcDNA3 mammalian expression vector (Invitrogen), containing either no insert, msarp1, or hsarp2 cDNAs, using LipofectAMINE reagent (Gibco) according to manufacturer's protocol. Stable transfectants and two-three weeks later single cell originated clones were selected with 1 mg/ml G418 and expression of the respective genes was confirmed by Northern hybridization.

Immunohistochemistry. Paraformaldehyde-fixed transfected MCF7 cells grown on 4-well Lab-Tek® chamber slides were probed by anti-β-catenin monoclonal IgG (Transduction Laboratories). Staining was performed by avidin-biotin-peroxydase system (Vector Laboratories) using diaminobenzidine as a substrate. IgG isolated from preimmune serum was used as a negative control.

Western Immunoblot. For Western analysis the samples of conditioned media were concentrated using CENTRIPREP®-10 concentrators (AMICON). Cells were harvested in extraction buffer consisting of 20 mM tris-HCl (pH 7.8), 5 mM MgCl₂, 250 mM sucrose, 1% NP40. After 1 hour incubation on ice extracts were clarified by centrifugation. Protein concentrations of the cellular extracts were determined using DC Protein Assay kit (Bio Rad). Equal amount of proteins were subjected to SDS/PAGE (Sambrook, J., et al. (1989) Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual (Second ed.) (CSHL Press), transferred onto nitrocellulose membranes, and probed with the anti-GST-mSARP1 polyclonal affinity purified IgG (1 μg/mL) or anti-β-catenin monoclonal IgG (Transduction Laboratories).

The results appear in FIG. 13, an image of a Western immunoblot which shows that expression of SARP2 decreases the intracellular concentration of β-catenin. The effect of SARP1 on the levels of β-catenin is more complicated. Western blot was not sensitive enough to discern a significant difference between SARP1 and the control, but immunohistochemical data revealed a higher concentration of β-catenin in the SARP1 transfectants. It is clear from these results that the expression of SARPs modifies the intracellular levels of β-catenin, supporting that SARPs interfere with Wnt-frizzled proteins signaling pathway.

This example supports that sarp genes and their products can be used not only to diagnose a variety of diseases associated with the modulation of hsarp expression, including cancers, but also to actively interfere with the action of these diseases on an intracellular level, and therefor to treat these diseases.

Further, the present invention encompasses methods of screening for potential therapeutic agents that modulate the interaction between SARP and Wnt-frizzled proteins by comparing the effect of SARPs on the Wnt-frizzled signaling pathway in the presence or absence of the therapeutic agent in question. Generally, such a drug screening assay can be performed by (a) combining a Wnt protein and a SARP protein under conditions in which they interact, to form a test sample; (b) exposing said test sample to a potential therapeutic agent and; (c) monitoring the interaction of the SARP protein and the frizzled protein; wherein, a potential therapeutic agent is selected for further study when it modifies the interaction compared to a control test sample to which no potential therapeutic agent has been added.

Although the foregoing invention has been described in some detail by way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity of understanding, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that certain changes and modifications may be practiced. Therefore, the descriptions and examples should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention, which is delineated by the appended claims. 

1. An antibody or an antigen binding fragment thereof, wherein the antibody or antigen binding fragment thereof binds specifically to an amino acid sequence consisting of at least 10 consecutive amino acid residues of SEQ ID NO:
 7. 2. An antibody or an antigen binding fragment thereof, wherein the antibody or antigen binding fragment thereof binds specifically to an amino acid sequence consisting of SEQ ID NO:
 7. 3. The antibody of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said antibody is polyclonal or monoclonal.
 4. The antibody of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the antigen binding fragment is a Fab, F(ab′)₂, Fab′ or scFv.
 5. A composition comprising the antibody or antigen binding fragment thereof of any one of claims 1 and 2, and a physiologically acceptable excipient or adjuvant.
 6. The antibody of any one of claims 1 and 2, further comprising a label. 